As he shook hands, posed for pictures and mingled with fans at the Simsbury Performing Arts Center Saturday morning, Jim Calhoun worked the crowd like a proud father.

Even with intermittent rain, the yearly fundraising event that bears his name was bubbling with activity as cyclists and walkers of all ages were coming and going. The Jim Calhoun Cancer Challenge Ride And Walk, in its sixth year, was going off without a hitch.

And for Calhoun, that meant without an injury. Calhoun, of course, fell and broke five ribs during a 50-mile ride three years ago. He famously finished the entire ride with broken ribs, collapsing after completing the course.

This year's ride was relatively pain-free. Calhoun did a 10-mile ride before veering off with friends for an additional 15 miles.

He was beaming while describing his 25-mile ride through the hills of the Farmington Valley.

"It was fun," Calhoun said. "I didn't fall. No one got hurt, which is always a good thing."

Calhoun, 70, was among the 1,000 or so participants in an event that raised between $300,000 and $400,000 for the UConn Health Center's Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. Since it began in 2007, the event has raised over $1.5 million.

For Calhoun, a cancer survivor, the popularity and success of his event is significant.

"We keep adding. We keep growing," Calhoun said. "It's a good day."

This year's event was dedicated to the memory of RuthAnn Lobo, the mother of former UConn basketball player Rebecca Lobo. RuthAnn Lobo died of cancer last year, and it was Calhoun's decision to hold his event in her honor.

Rebecca Lobo and her family (husband Steve Rushin and their four children) participated in the 3-mile walk. Lobo said she was pleasantly surprised when she received a call from an event official a few months ago.

"I was really touched," she said. "They got in touch with me … and asked if it would be OK, to do this in my mom's memory. And [I said], 'Of course it would be OK.' It's nice."

Calhoun said he had read RuthAnn Lobo's book and was aware of her battle with cancer.

"She was so courageous dealing with breast cancer and such a role model for other people; we thought it would be a good thing to [dedicate the event to her]," Calhoun said. "I always think that, after Geno [Auriemma] certainly, that Rebecca would be the face, that I see anyways, for women's basketball at UConn."

Said Rebecca Lobo: "I had a great relationship with coach Calhoun when I was playing at the University of Connecticut. They said it was his idea, [that] he's the one who wanted to do this. So it means a lot."

Calhoun didn't look like a man ready for retirement Saturday, and he said again that there is nothing new to report about his future. He termed it a "non-question," saying he is working toward the season as he has in previous years: recruiting, coaching and planning.

"I have a contract," Calhoun said. "I'm doing everything to prepare for next season. But I never had any vision, even last year, of waiting until everything is in place [before retiring]. And secondly, right now I'm thinking about going on the road [to recruit]."

Calhoun said he'll have an official word in September, but he is sending signals that he'll be on the bench for another season. He talked Saturday about the program's new players, from Holy Cross transfer R.J. Evans working with assistant coach Kevin Ollie to the impending arrival of his freshman class. He talked about areas where some of his players are looking to improve — Ryan Boatright and DeAndre Daniels are honing their jump shots — and offered updates on the summer plans for others — Shabazz Napier is training with the National Team in Puerto Rico.

So Calhoun doesn't sound like a coach stepping away. But after 25 miles of pedaling, he wasn't about to drop any news about his future to the assembled media.

"You guys will be the first to know," Calhoun told reporters. "Well, not first. Close to the first."